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Supervisors debate $900K EMS request, consider MOUs and volunteer incentives
Summary
Board members questioned a sudden jump in EMS/squad funding requests, discussed requiring MOUs or liens before giving county money to private 501(c)(3) providers, and considered volunteer personal-property incentives; oversight and work-session follow-up were requested.
Several supervisors raised concerns about a large EMS funding request reported in committee — described by one member as an increase from about $215,000 to $896,000 in one year — and asked whether the county should require written MOUs, liens or title guarantees before allocating county funds to private 501(c)(3) squads. One supervisor said the county should not simply 'write a check' absent clear representations from the county’s representatives on any oversight board and called for the committees to develop MOU language.
Members also discussed options to incentivize volunteers through reductions or waivers of personal-property taxes for volunteer responders. A competing motion to separate levy items (including a proposal to reduce certain personal-property valuations for emergency-service volunteers) was debated but failed for lack of a second; supervisors agreed to return with numbers and specific MOU language at the next work session.
